Surmising: meaning, definitions and examples
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surmising
[sɜːrˈmaɪzɪŋ ]
Definition
making an assumption
Surmising is the act of forming an opinion or making a guess based on incomplete or insufficient evidence. It often involves inferring information or drawing conclusions without having all the necessary data to support those conclusions. This term is frequently used when one is speculating about someone else's thoughts, feelings, or intentions. Surmising may also imply a degree of intuition or instinct that informs the guesswork involved.
Synonyms
assumption, guess, inference, speculation.
Examples of usage
- She was surmising the reasons for his sudden silence.
- He couldn’t help but start surmising what would happen next.
- The detective was surmising the suspect's motives.
- After glancing at the table, she began surmising their conversation.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the Latin 'sur' (over) and 'mittere' (to send), which together suggest sending an idea or thought over your mind.
- In Middle English, 'surmisen' meant to conjecture or suppose, showing how the meaning evolved over time.
Literature
- Surmising often takes a central role in detective fiction, where characters must infer facts to solve mysteries.
- Famous authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie used the technique of surmising to reveal plots and character motivations.
Science
- In scientific research, forming hypotheses can be seen as a form of surmising, where researchers guess potential outcomes based on existing data.
- Surmising is crucial in observational studies, where scientists must make educated guesses about behaviors or phenomena they cannot fully measure.
Psychology
- The ability to infer or conjecture is linked to cognitive processes, such as critical thinking and perspective-taking.
- Surmising can influence decision-making and biases, as people often rely on incomplete information to make assumptions.
Pop Culture
- In many mystery films and shows, characters are often portrayed as experts in surmising, creating drama and tension as they piece together clues.
- Reality shows often involve surmising about contestants' strategies and secret alliances, engaging viewers in the guessing game.
Translations
Translations of the word "surmising" in other languages:
🇵🇹 suposição
🇮🇳 अनुमान लगाना
🇩🇪 vermuten
🇮🇩 mengira
🇺🇦 припущення
🇵🇱 przypuszczenie
🇯🇵 推測する
🇫🇷 supposition
🇪🇸 suponer
🇹🇷 varsaymak
🇰🇷 추측하다
🇸🇦 افتراض
🇨🇿 předpokládat
🇸🇰 predpokladať
🇨🇳 推测
🇸🇮 domnevati
🇮🇸 álykta
🇰🇿 болжам жасау
🇬🇪 დააზრიონო
🇦🇿 təhmin etmək
🇲🇽 suponer